70 MINIs on Top (in New Hampshire)

Some of you may have seen photos of the recent New Hampshire MINI drive around the web. Here's a thorough review from Ian Cull:

The summer solstice saw perhaps the biggest local gathering of MINIs to date in the White Mountains region of New Hampshire. More than 70 MINIs and their owners, from New England and as far as Cleveland Ohio, gathered at the Loon Mountain parking lot (thanks to them) midday on June 21.

Steve, who did a magnificent job organizing and coordinating the events, handed out the specially designed “MINIs On Top” T-shirts, and numbered every car for the later prize givings.

After a lot of “meet and greet” and mutual admiration of each others cars, we set off along the Kancamagus Highway for a “parade” drive, being careful to maintain the speed limit at all times. We turned onto Bear Notch Road which winds pleasantly through the hills, stopping for lunch and completely filling the parking area!

After lunch we completed Bear Notch Road and dispersed to entertain ourselves for the rest of the afternoon – some enjoyed cider donuts (http://www.whitemountaincider.com), some slid down the Attitash Bear Peak slide (www.attitash.com) and some entertained their family at Storyland (www.storylandnh.com). We checked in to our hotel, then toured the craft stores in Gorham.

About 6pm everyone gathered back at the start of the Mount Washington Auto Road; a BBQ was provided by the Auto Road, offering chicken, hot dogs, and burgers of the beef and veggie variety (also salad for the health conscious, and excellent brownies for the less health minded!) Prizes were given out for the longest distance travelled (the owners from Cleveland won easily), cleanest (and dirtiest) MINI, best CD collection, and others. John also read out an official proclamation signed by Craig Benson (Governor of New Hampshire) declaring June 21 2003 “MINI Cooper Day” in New Hampshire – excellent!

After prize giving all the MINIs lined up at the start of the Auto road, then we proceeded up at a gentle first/second gear pace.

Eight miles later, all the MINIs successfully arrived ON TOP of Mount Washington; there were a few hot engines but no casualties.

Everybody gathered at the viewing area on top and called various friends back home to capture a screenshot from the Mount Washinton webcam (http://www.mountwashington.org/cam/deck/index.php); then we watched a superb sunset – the weather was incredibly good all day!

You can see tons of photos from this event here: minisontop.com.